International Research Journal of Social Sciences___________________________________ ___ ISSN 2319–3565 Vol. 8(3), 50-53, July (2019) Int. Res. J. Social Sci. Short Review Paper India Nepal relations vis a vis Madhesi issue Lubina Sarwar University of Kashmir, India [email protected] Available online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 27 th November 2018, revised 25 th April 2019, accepted 29 th June 2019 Abstract India and Nepal share a unique relationship of friendship characterized by geographical contiguity, extensive socio - institutional relationships, along with it the common bond of a shared religion, common civilizational heritage, ethnic similarities and socio-cultural affinities have a great influence on bilateral relations. The ethnic similarity has been a cementing factor in bilateral relations, but post -2015 this is becoming a major irritant in relations. It is in this context that the study explores the Madhesi factor in India -Nepal relations and its impact on bilateral relations. Keywords : India, Madhesi, Ethnic, Nepal, blockade . Introduction Tharu (6.6%), Tamang (5.8%), Newar (5%) , Muslim (4.2%), Kami (4.8%), Yadav (4%) 6. They are all Indo -Aryan groups in India and Nepal are probably the closest neighbors in the world Nepal and are simultaneously found in east and south India. So who share huge similarities in terms of common civilizational Nepal’s predominant population is ethnically from the same heritage, geographical proximity, socio-cultural affinities, and group as Indian’s. 1 common bond of a shared religion making relationship unique . The open border between India and Nepal has facilitated Nepal a small landlocked Himalayan country sandwiched continuity and strengthened the ancient friendly bonds bet ween between India and China, surrounded by India to the east west the two countries. and south and by China to the north 7. Nepal shares border with five Indian states- Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh The Socio-cultural affinity between the two countries is so close and Uttrakhand 8. Geographically Nepal has three major that it is difficult to distinguish between the two . Their customs, divisions, the mountain region, the hill region, and the Terai rituals, religion and behavioral patterns are so similar that is it region . The Mountain region of Nepal lies above the altitude of difficult to make a distinction between them. Their food, dress, 4,877 to the north of the hill region and is covered by snow language, music, art, sculpture are not fundamentally different throughout the year. South of the mountain is the Hill or Pahar from each other. Nepali language's origin is traced from region has an average height of mountains about 600 to 2000 Sanskrit, like most of the Indian languages, and is written in meters, although geographically secluded with tiny possibility 2 Devnagari script . In fact, most of the people in terai speak for agriculture has lot of historical and political significance as it 3 Bhojpuri or Maithili which is an Indian dialect . Religion is an has been hub of socio-polit ico commotions in Nepal since important bond that persists the relations. Nepal (only official ancient times. Kathmandu valley forms a part of hill region. To Hindu kingdom till 2006) has predominant Hindu population the south of the hill region is Terai (plain) region also called and India has about 72% of Hindu populatio n. Common religion Madhes, is an extension of the northern plains of India that has created a sense of brotherhood and has further strengthened stretches from east to west along th e Nepal-India border up to Cultural ties between people of India and Nepal. the south 9. 4 India and Nepal have ethnic similarities, The Nepalese people Enmity between Nepal and British East India Company over the from the standpoint of their ethnic composition are divided into princely states bordering Nepal and India finally led to the two broad categories the Indo-Aryans (Caucasoid) and Tibeto Anglo-Nepalese war known as Anglo -Gurkha war (1814-1816), 5 Nepalese (Mongolid) . The high-caste Hindus of the first in which Nepal suffered a complete r out 10 . In March 1816 a category, i.e, the Brahmans and Kshatriyas, who have always peace treaty was formally signed between Nepal and British dominated politics of Nepal, are believed to have migrated from East India company that ended war between two and that also India, two groups of kshatriyas from which shah dynasty and included territorial concessions for British, and with it Nepal Rana dynasty emerged. Indo Aryans constitute about 72% of the lost almost one-third of its territory on the east , south, and the Indian population. Nepal’s major ethnic groups are Chhettri west of Nepal 11 . Under the treaty, Nepalese lost of its territory, (16.6%), Brahman (12.2%) while others are Magar (7.1%) , that included territory to west of the Kali River like Kumaon International Science Community Association 50 International Research Journal of Social Sciences___________________________________________________ ISSN 2319–3565 Vol. 8(3), 50-53, July (2019) Int. Res. J. Social Sci. (present Indian state of Uttarakhand), Garhwal (present Indian political parties to accept their demands. With the transition in state of Uttarakhand); some territories to the west of the Sutlej Nepal from Monarchy to democracy the issue of ‘Autonomous River like Kangra (present day Himachal Pradesh), and much of Madhes’ emerged again in 2007 15,18 . It is called the Madhesh the Terai Region 12 . As a result of revision of 1816 Treaty after Andolan or Madhes movement 2007. The issue centered on the nine months of its conclusion, some region of Madhes or Terai non-inclusion of the term ‘federalism’ in the interim constitution (from Koshi to Rapti) was returned back to Nepal 11 , and as a of Nepal as MJA was promised, for them it was a step towards reward for co-operation to suppress the Indian rebellion of 1857 restructuring Nepali state that meant regional autonomy of as Nepal provided troops on request of British 11,13 a treaty was Terai, proportional representation of Madhesis and increase in signed on 18 November 1860 between British East India representation of Madhesis in parliament 15,19 . With the company and Nepal by which as a goodwill gesture the British agreement between Government of Nepal and MJF on 30 East India Company returned back some territories to Nepal in August 2007 20 , in which government of Nepal accepted their the western plains (from Rapti to Kali) previously ceded to India demands they withdrew agitation. After the promulgation of under the treaty of Sugauli 9,11 . So this region that stretches from constitution of Nepal in September 2015, Madhesis found it Brahmaputra in the east to the Yamuna river in the west unsatisfactory and they started opposition of the constitution. including the returned territories is known as Tarai or the They started agitation as they stated that instead of an eight Madhes with inhabits known as Madhesises 14 . The Madhesis are province model a seven-province model with demarcation was defined as the people of Indian origin or migrants of India, declared that is unfair to them and a means to enslave Madhesis Madhesises share common culture and language, similar ethno- and other minorities in Nepal. They argued that constitution is racial ties, including marital relations with people of across the designed in a way to gave larger share to hill and mountain border particularly with people of Eastern and Northern India, people (or Bahun also called Khas Brahmins) in the parliament that is why Madhesises are branded as Indians not truly and reducing Madhesis to low number despite their large share Nepalese 15 . Feeling alienated Madhesis are demanding the in population. For this reason they resented and rejected autonomy of the region resulting in conflict between Nepali constitution giving rise to protests in the regions of Mid-west, government and Madhesis. Nepali government blames India for Karnali and Madhes. The protests took the violent form killing supporting Madhesises. In 2015 Nepal charged India of and injuring many people in those regions 15,21 . The madhesis providing base to Madhesi agitation as they on their own lack were unsatisfied with the process of inclusion and representation strength to go to such extent. Nepal blamed India as it had system in the constitution, they called it a step towards their overtly extended support to Madhesis in various international marginalisation in the political system. Moreover they were not forums for anti-constitution movement asserting that it has ‘roti satisfied with the provincial federal structure that was dividing beti ka sambandh’ with the Madhesis. Moreover, India raised the Madhes region into segments, in addition the issue of the issue of ‘human right violation’ in Geneva-based Human delineation of electoral constituencies and representation in Rights, extending solidarity with the Madhes movement beyond constituent assembly was not done in accordance with the bilateral forum. Nepali government called these steps as a proportional representation system. Madhesis also found the substance to embolden the Madhesi leaders 16,15 . All this led to citizenship law discriminatory towards them as it snubbed the the climax of relations between two countries. citizenship rights of Nepali woman if she marries a man from a foreign country and same was not applicable to Nepali men if he Origin of Madhesi issue marries outside his country. For Madhesis it was discriminatory as cross-border marriages with Indians are common in this The demand for autonomy of Terai can be traced back to anti- province. The issue of proportional representation was Rana revolution in 1950 and with the formation of Terai addressed with constitutional amendment bill of January congress (1950-51) the demand for autonomous Madhes got 2016 15,22 excluding the issues of provincial demarcation and consolidated.